PSC Season Preview

Mar 12, 2003

The Panthers will open the campaign with the annual trip to Ft.
Myers, Fla., over the school's spring break, which begins Friday.
PSC will play 10 games in six days against 10 different opponents
in the annual Gene Cusic Classic, beginning this Sunday (Mar. 16)
and running through Friday (Mar. 23) with an off day on Wednesday.

After returning to New England, the Panthers will have a week
off before the Little East Conference opener at UMass Dartmouth on
Saturday, Mar. 29. PSC's home opener is slated for Saturday, Apr.
5, against Eastern Connecticut.

The Panthers have 24 games on the slate after the Florida trip,
including 14 conference contests. The regular season wraps up on
Apr. 26, with the annual LEC Tournament the following week. The
Little East Tournament champion receives an automatic bid into the
NCAA Division III Softball Championship Tournament.

2003 P.S.C. Softball Outlook

PSC won a school-record 24 games in 2002, finishing 24-13-2 for
its first winning season since 1994. The Panthers advanced to the
ECAC New England Tournament, had one All-America and two All-New
England selections, and lost only one player to graduation.

Third-year head coach Harry Blood is optimistic that the 13
returning veterans and five newcomers can repeat the achievements
of last year's squad. In fact, the Panthers have set their sights
higher.

"The captains have set the goals," says Blood. "They want to go
deeper into the post-season. The confidence level is different this
year. We won't sneak up on anybody. But we know what we did (last
year), and we know we can do more."

A big key to the season is the return of sophomore pitcher Kim
Jeffs (Stoughton, Mass.), who earned Third Team All-America status
as a freshman after leading the nation with 360 strikeouts. She
finished 21-8 with a 0.68 ERA, and is expected to again be a
dominant hurler. Freshman Rose Eaton (Concord,N.H.) will be worked
into the mix as the season progresses.

"Obviously Kim had a great freshman year," says Blood, "and
we're thrilled to have her back. She gives us a very good chance to
win every time she goes out there. I expect her to have just as
good a season this spring, if not better."

Jeff's battery-mate is another big key to the Panthers. Senior
catcher and co-captain Adriene Harvey (Nantucket, Mass.), earned
All-New England honors last season after equaling or breaking PSC
single-season records for doubles, home runs and RBIs in a season.
As well as she hits, Blood is happy to have her behind the plate.

"Adriene has outstanding leadership, and she's a solid catcher,"
says Blood. "She understands what we want to do with our pitching
staff, and that's key."

PSC should have an improved infield, according to Blood.
Sophomore Annie Metz (Stoughton, Mass.) returns with a year's
experience at third base, and possesses one of the strongest bats
in the Panther line-up. Junior co-captain Kristin Balles (Bedford,
N.H./Manchester West), who has started at first base the past two
years, will move over to short. Sophomore Anna Godard (Florence,
Mass.) could take over the second base job, and Michelle Knox
(Gilmanton, N.H.) is the likely starter at first.